A chance to bloom

Mount Sniktau, one of my favorite summer hikes, is both stunning and harsh. The first mile up (which is also the last mile down) is a steep, forty-six percent grade with loose rocks and dirt, and the wind is rarely less than 10 miles per hour. I often chose Mt Sniktau as one of my first big hikes of the summer season. This year was no exception, and I was thrilled for such a stunning weather day. I took my time and even had several conversations with hikers along the way including with a Father and son duo on the summit. They left the summit a few minutes after I arrived. I sat for a while reveling in the 360 degree mountain views, with my chocolate milk and peanut butter sandwich, before heading back down.

On the final mile of my descent, I saw the duo in front of me in the distance. They were walking off to the side of the trail in the tundra. I understand this is a challenging part of the trail for any hiker to keep their footing due to the grade and the rock.  I expected they were finding it easier to gain traction in the hard, green tundra.

But, I cringed and quickened my pace. When I caught up with them, the conversation went something like this:

• Me: You two seem to really be enjoying your hike. Isn’t it beautiful here?
• Father: Yes, it is! We are having a wonderful day!
• Me: I need to share something with you. I noticed you are walking off trail. I know it is difficult to keep your traction on the loose rocks. But these plants are working pretty hard to live, so, it’s important to stay on the trail.
• Father: Oh my gosh, we’re so sorry. You’re right. Can you tell we’re flatlanders. It’s our first time here.
• Me: Well, you’re doing great – this is a challenging hike! Can you tell, I live here and care a lot about it. Thanks for listening to me and being respectful. Enjoy the rest of your hike.
• Father/Son: We will. Sorry again. Have a great day.

Now, meet this bright beauty -the Old Man of the Mountain. This tundra plant grows green, fuzzy leaves for 12-15 years without flowering. Then, finally, it blooms. This bright, showy flower only comes after years of adapting to the jarring conditions of the wide open, un-treed areas of the alpine. And yes. “He” was on that mountain that day too.

There are several philosophers who teach that we cannot experience joy in life without also experiencing suffering.  Nietzsche says we cannot simply tolerate suffering, but we must embrace it in order to live a full and vibrant life. This plant has a lot to embrace.

When facing difficult situations, unbearable pain, or devastating loss,  it can feel like we will never bloom or bloom again. Grief is a powerful example of this, and here is a terrible truth about grief. You CAN ultimately feel joy again in a way that you never believed you could. Why is this a terrible truth? Because to be hopeful is more difficult than to be cynical. Let me say that in another way – the easy route is cynicism. It’s usually a lot less work. So, while we may be suffering, like the Old Man of the Mountain, hope can be found. In the cold. The relentless wind. The rocky ground that thaws and freezes over and over again.

I look at this beautiful yellow flower with admiration. Braving the harsh elements that exist at the altitude where it lives, this plant has found a place to survive and thrive. And so have hundreds of others grasses, lichens and perennials. They are doing what others could not. Embracing suffering. And if the Old Man of the Mountain had feelings, I imagine that he would be a very hopeful chap! But, would he succumb to cynicism if stomped on by a human?

On my post-hike drive home, I thought a lot about the conversation with the Father and son duo. I was glad I had it and that it was taken in the spirit that it was meant. I felt content that I stood up for the Old Man of the Mountain. It also made me think about humans – how we have many chances to support each other. And, how unfortunately, a lot of times, we don’t do that very well. And when I say we, I am fully including my imperfect self. But, nobody wants to be stepped on. Especially when things are hard enough. On any given day, we don’t know what another person in our path is dealing with. What their circumstance is. Pain. Suffering. Grief. We have no clue about the harsh conditions they are facing.

But here we all are. So, let’s be good. Let’s be kind – to our Earth and to each other. Even if it is damn hard, can we give more time to hope and less time to cynicism and give ourselves and each other the chance to bloom?